Robert Burnside felt mixed emotions in the stands at Cintas Center, witnessing hundreds of Kings High School graduates accept their diplomas.
The former Lakota East High School principal first felt acute stress, which he likened to post-traumatic stress disorder, as memories returned from his nearly two decades leading high schools. Graduation ceremonies like this one, he said, used to be his Super Bowl.
But overriding the stress and the longing for the profession he once cherished was immense pride for the graduate he was supporting that day: Landerius "DeDe" Hayes.
Not too long ago, Burnside knew Hayes to be a junior walking his halls at Lakota East, one of many students Burnside liked humoring with his "goofy pants" he'd sport every Friday.
At the time, Hayes was the student experiencing homelessness who Burnside championed when Lakota ordered his withdrawal. He was the 16-year-old who, due to circumstances out of his control, didn't have an in-district address on file.
And Hay...
Suggested Credits
Tags, Events, and Projects